Zippy coupe still sensible

By Brian Harper, National Post

Originally published: July 4, 2012

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Montreal – Hyundai’s Elantra Touring was a pretty good junior interpretation of the Euro-centric sports wagon. In topline GL form and with the Sport package added, it had a certain functional style to it, drove well enough and was about a third of the price of one of the fancy European makes. In other words, it was sort of a budget-based sports wagon in training.

Its replacement, the new Elantra GT, ramps up the sport quotient by a significant margin with looks, handling and healthier performance. If we were talking fairy tales instead of cars, the GT would be Cinderella and the Touring would be relegated to one of the ugly stepsisters.

Along with the equally new two-door Coupe, the GT is the latest addition to the Elantra lineup. Instead of the station wagon-styled Touring, it’s bringing five-door hatchback functionality along with European driving dynamics, the GT being based on the Euro-market Hyundai i30. As such, Hyundai is targeting rival five-door hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus, Mazda3 Sport and Toyota Matrix.

Looks-wise, the GT is the latest recipient of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design program. The automaker will tell you it evokes "the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the illusion of constant motion," but that’s just styling hyperbole to say the new hatch cuts a fine aerodynamic profile coming and going – low overall height, sculpted side mirrors, small tire gaps and streamlined rocker panels each contribute to a sleek 0.30 coefficient of drag. The front end features Hyundai’s signature hexagonal grille as well as projection headlamps. Along the side, the bold character lines are accented by available chrome beltline mouldings. Available fog lights and 17-inch alloy wheels with chrome inlays play up the design.

The GT is not all show and no go either. Under the hood lies a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine designated Nu. Developing 148 horsepower (10 more than in the Touring) and 131 pound-feet of torque, the Nu engine is shared throughout the Elantra lineup. With a lightweight aluminum block and head, Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), hydraulic engine mounts, roller swing arms and hydraulic lash adjusters, plus numerous other details, the GT not only displays decent verve under power – it revs cleanly to redline, although it is a little thin in the torque department – it is also stoutly fuel efficient. Hyundai says the hatch is capable of delivering a fuel economy of 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway with the manual transmission. It also helps that the GT tips the scales at a trim 1,245 kilograms, which Hyundai says makes it the lightest five-door hatchback in the compact segment.

A six-speed manual is standard on most trim levels, with a six-speed automatic – with Shiftronic manual control – a $1,200 option. The manual shifts crisply with smooth clutch takeup. These positive shifts are courtesy of triple-cone synchronizers for first and second gears, double cone for third gear and single cone for fourth, fifth and sixth.

But it’s the way the hatchback handled the twisting and patterned back roads of Quebec’s Eastern Townships that showcased the differences between the GT and its four-door sibling. Where the sedan is primarily tuned for comfort, the GT has been calibrated for increased feel, responsiveness and handling performance. Differences in its platform include stiffer rear spring rates, stiffer twist beam and Sachs dampers for improved body motion control. A 22-millimetre-diameter front stabilizer bar helps reduce body roll when cornering. The upshot of this suspension tuning strategy is a car that allows the driver to get more involved in the road experience without beating him or her up with a harsh ride.

Assisting the GT’s roadworthiness is a suite of safety backups, headed by the Vehicle Stability Management system, which manages the electronic stability control and the power steering to help maintain control in slippery conditions or during faster cornering. Traction control and ABS are also included.

Assisting the chassis is Hyundai’s new Driver Selectable Steering Mode (DSSM) system, which provides three selectable operating modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) to tailor the GT’s steering response based on driver preference and road conditions. Comfort mode offers the lightest steering, making it ideal for parking lot manoeuvres. Sport mode is heavier – but not artificially so – and is the best selection for winding roads as well as providing on-centre stability during higher-speed driving. The default Normal mode offers a reasonable balance of the two.

As to the practicality side of the equation, with the second row up, the cabin provides reasonable comfort for five passengers. When more utility is required, the 60/40-split rear seat can be folded flat to create a 50.8-cubic-foot cargo area. The rear-seat cushions can also be folded upward for added versatility.

Standard features include a 172-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers and iPod/USB/auxiliary connectivity, air conditioning, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition and heated front seats.

The Elantra GT is a thoroughly entertaining car and, for those required by family obligations to turn in their sports cars and sport sedans for more sensible transportation, an economical means to retain some joy in the driving experience while fulfilling more mundane obligations.

The GT will be arriving at dealerships shortly. Pricing ranges from $19,149 for the base model to $26,349 for the topline SE Tech.

A fresh level of sporty sophistication

While the new GT adds hatchback functionality to the Elantra lineup for 2013, the equally new Coupe brings a fresh level of sporty sophistication to the affordable end of the segment, plus provides serious competition to Honda’s Civic Coupe as well as the Kia Forte Koup.

Virtually identical to the GT hatch in the powertrain department, the Coupe also undergoes Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture styling makeover. This means the automaker’s signature hexagonal grille and swept-back jewelled headlights gives an assertive demeanour and a distinct look.

At the rear, a blacked-out rear valance contrasts with dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets and the deck lid incorporates an integrated lip spoiler. The topline SE model features five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels with dark spoke inserts for an even more rakish presence.

The Coupe’s cabin room is generous and Hyundai claims the Elantra Coupe offers more occupant space than the Civic Coupe. Trunk volume is equally capacious, identical to that of the sedan.

The interior layout showcases a tastefully detailed cabin with an impressive level of content for the car’s price point. Easily legible gauges are fronted by a tilt and telescopic steering column. The seats in the Coupe feature deeper side bolsters than those found in the sedan for increased lateral support. Heated seats are standard equipment on all trim levels, which come standard with a host of audio and tech goodies.

The Coupe’s driving characteristics are similar to the GT, though not quite as dynamic – more in between the softer riding sedan and the sporting hatchback. And, unlike the GT, the Coupe is not fitted with the Driver Selectable Steering Mode system.

With compact coupe sales forecast to grow by more than 40% by 2016, Hyundai sees the Coupe as an ideal model to service the needs of those buyers who want style and fuel efficiency but who do not want a "family" car.